Mr. Shaun Henry:

We are mindful that under the PEACE programme we are targeting the most marginalised young people. The call for applications is currently open and under assessment. We hope to make awards to relevant organisations in May or June this year.

One of the key criteria we assess relates to the capacity of those organisations to reach down or reach out to the most marginalised young people. Through an intensive programme of engagement we hope to try to change the opportunities for these young people. A critical factor involves building their capacity to respect difference and their understanding for respecting difference. This relates not only to the traditional divisions within Northern Ireland, but race and sexual orientation as well. We take a broad-based approach of building respect for difference and diversity.